Security+ Certification Cost: Complete Breakdown (2026)
Security+ certification costs more than just the exam fee. Learn the real total cost including exam fees, study materials, practice tests, and training—plus how to save money.
EpicDetect Team
10 min read
Security+ Certification Cost: Complete Breakdown (2026)
Security+ certification costs more than just the exam fee. Here's the real breakdown.
You're probably thinking: "The exam is $370, so that's the total cost, right?"
Nope. Not even close.
Most people spend $500-1,000+ on Security+ certification when you add up exam fees, study materials, practice tests, and training. Let's break down exactly what you'll pay—and how to save money.
Security+ Exam Cost: Official Fees
CompTIA Security+ Exam Fee: $370
That's the base cost. But here's what most people don't realize:
- Exam retake fee: $370 (if you fail, you pay again)
- Exam voucher: Same price, but you can sometimes find discounts
- Pearson VUE testing center fee: Included in the $370
- Online proctoring: Included, but requires specific setup
Total exam cost: $370 (minimum) to $740+ (if you need a retake)
Pro tip: Don't schedule your exam until you're scoring 85%+ on practice tests. One retake doubles your cost.
Study Materials Cost: Books, Courses, Practice Tests
Here's where costs add up fast.
Books
Official CompTIA Security+ Study Guide:
- Cost: $40-60
- What you get: Comprehensive textbook covering all domains
- Best for: People who learn by reading
Darril Gibson "Get Certified Get Ahead":
- Cost: $30-50
- What you get: Popular study guide with practice questions
- Best for: Self-study learners
Mike Meyers Security+ All-in-One:
- Cost: $35-55
- What you get: Complete exam guide with online resources
- Best for: Visual learners
Total book cost: $30-60 (if you buy one)
Online Courses
Professor Messer (Free):
- Cost: Free
- What you get: YouTube videos, free study groups
- Limitation: No practice tests, no structured schedule
Jason Dion Udemy Course:
- Cost: $15-20 (on sale) or $90 (regular price)
- What you get: Video course + 2 practice tests
- Best for: Budget-conscious learners
Mike Meyers Udemy Course:
- Cost: $15-20 (on sale) or $90 (regular price)
- What you get: Video course with labs
- Best for: Hands-on learners
CBT Nuggets:
- Cost: $59/month (subscription)
- What you get: Video courses for multiple certs
- Best for: People getting multiple certifications
Total course cost: $0 (free) to $90+ (paid courses)
Practice Tests
Jason Dion Practice Tests:
- Cost: $15-20 per test (5 tests = $75-100)
- What you get: Good explanations, real exam feel
- Downside: Same questions every time
Boson ExSim:
- Cost: $99 for 3 practice tests
- What you get: Detailed explanations, performance tracking
- Downside: Expensive, limited tests
Professor Messer Practice Exams:
- Cost: $25-30 per exam (3 exams = $75-90)
- What you get: Real exam simulation
- Best for: People who want official-style tests
Total practice test cost: $75-150 (if you buy multiple tests)
Flashcards
Anki (Free):
- Cost: Free
- What you get: Spaced repetition flashcards (you create them)
- Downside: Time-consuming to set up
Quizlet Premium:
- Cost: $7.99/month
- What you get: Pre-made flashcard sets
- Best for: Quick memorization
Total flashcard cost: $0 (free) to $8/month
Total Security+ Certification Cost: Real Numbers
Let's add it all up.
Budget Option (Minimal Spending)
- Exam fee: $370
- Free course (Professor Messer): $0
- One study guide: $40
- Free practice questions: $0
- Total: $410
Reality check: This might work if you're extremely disciplined, but you'll likely need practice tests ($75-100) and might need a retake ($370). Realistic total: $855-880
Standard Option (Most People)
- Exam fee: $370
- Udemy course: $20
- Study guide: $50
- Practice tests (5 tests): $100
- Flashcards: $0 (free)
- Total: $540
But wait: If you need a retake, add another $370. Total: $910
Premium Option (Everything)
- Exam fee: $370
- Premium course: $90
- Multiple study guides: $100
- Boson practice tests: $99
- Professor Messer practice exams: $90
- Flashcard app: $8/month
- Total: $757 (plus $8/month for flashcards)
With retake: $1,127+
EpicDetect Option (Complete System)
- Exam fee: $370
- EpicDetect Security+ Prep: $25/month
- Complete Security+ course
- Unlimited procedural practice tests
- 400+ flashcards (no setup needed)
- Exam simulator
- Total for 2 months: $420
- Total for 3 months: $445
Value comparison:
- Standard option: $540+ (and you might need more)
- EpicDetect: $445 (everything included)
- You save $95+ and get more features
See everything included in EpicDetect →
How to Save Money on Security+ Certification
Here are real ways to cut costs:
1. Get Exam Voucher Discounts
Student discounts:
- Academic vouchers: 10-20% off
- Check with your school's IT department
- Savings: $37-74
Military discounts:
- CompTIA offers military pricing
- Check with your base education office
- Savings: 10-15% off
Bulk discounts:
- Some employers buy vouchers in bulk
- Check if your company offers certification reimbursement
- Savings: 100% (if employer pays)
2. Use Free Resources First
Free study materials:
- Professor Messer YouTube videos (free)
- CompTIA official sample questions (free)
- ExamCompass practice questions (free)
- Reddit r/CompTIA community (free advice)
Free practice tests:
- Limited, but good for basics
- Use before buying paid tests
Strategy: Start with free resources, then invest in paid materials only if needed.
3. Buy Study Materials on Sale
Udemy sales:
- Courses drop to $15-20 regularly
- Wait for sales (happen monthly)
- Savings: $70-75 per course
Amazon book sales:
- Study guides often 20-30% off
- Buy used books (same content)
- Savings: $10-20 per book
4. Use a Complete System (Best Value)
Instead of buying everything separately:
Traditional approach:
- Course: $90
- Practice tests: $100
- Flashcards: $8/month
- Study guide: $50
- Total: $248+ (and you might need more)
EpicDetect approach:
- Everything included: $25/month
- Total for 2 months: $50
- Total for 3 months: $75
You save $173+ and get:
- Unlimited practice tests (not just 5)
- Procedural exams that change every time
- No setup required
- Cancel anytime
Hidden Costs Most People Forget
These add up fast:
Retake Fees
Cost: $370 per retake
How to avoid: Don't schedule until you're ready. Most people fail because they rush.
EpicDetect helps: Our exam simulator shows you exactly when you're ready, so you don't waste money on retakes.
Time Cost
Your time is valuable:
- 3-6 months of study time
- Hours per week: 10-20 hours
- Opportunity cost: Could be earning more with the cert
Faster = cheaper:
- Pass in 30 days vs 6 months
- Start earning sooner
- Less time = less money "lost"
Additional Study Materials
What happens when free resources aren't enough:
- You buy more practice tests: +$75-100
- You buy another course: +$90
- You buy flashcards: +$8/month
- Total: $173+ more
EpicDetect prevents this: Everything you need is included from day one.
Is Security+ Certification Worth the Cost?
Let's do the math.
Investment Breakdown
Minimum investment: $410-540
Realistic investment: $540-910
Premium investment: $757-1,127+
Return on Investment
Salary increase:
- Security+ certified professionals earn $5,000-15,000 more per year
- Average increase: $8,000/year
Career advancement:
- Opens doors to SOC analyst roles
- Required for many government jobs (DoD 8570)
- Foundation for advanced certs (CySA+, CASP+)
ROI calculation:
- Investment: $540-910
- First-year return: $8,000
- ROI: 880-1,480%
Break-even point: Less than 1 month of salary increase
But Here's the Catch
You only get ROI if you pass:
- If you fail and retake: Add $370
- If you give up: You lose everything
- If you take 6 months: Opportunity cost of delayed career growth
EpicDetect increases your pass rate:
- Structured 30-day plan
- Unlimited practice tests
- Exam readiness tracking
- Result: Pass faster, spend less, earn more sooner
Start your 30-day Security+ plan →
Security+ Certification Cost Comparison Table
| Item | Budget | Standard | Premium | EpicDetect |
|------|--------|----------|---------|------------|
| Exam Fee | $370 | $370 | $370 | $370 |
| Course | $0 (free) | $20 | $90 | Included |
| Study Guide | $40 | $50 | $100 | Included |
| Practice Tests | $0 (limited) | $100 | $189 | Unlimited |
| Flashcards | $0 (setup) | $0 (setup) | $8/month | Included |
| Exam Simulator | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Included |
| Subtotal | $410 | $540 | $757+ | $370 |
| Monthly Cost | - | - | $8/month | $25/month |
| 2 Months Total | $410 | $540 | $773 | $420 |
| 3 Months Total | $410 | $540 | $789 | $445 |
| With Retake | $780 | $910 | $1,127+ | $445 |
Key insight: EpicDetect costs less than the standard option, includes everything, and prevents retake costs.
FAQ: Security+ Certification Cost
Q: What's the total cost of Security+ certification?
A: Most people spend $540-910 total. This includes the exam fee ($370), study materials ($40-100), and practice tests ($75-150). If you need a retake, add another $370.
Q: Can I get Security+ certified for free?
A: The exam fee ($370) is required, but you can minimize other costs by using free resources like Professor Messer's videos and free practice questions. Realistic minimum: $410.
Q: How much does Security+ cost with EpicDetect?
A: Exam fee ($370) + EpicDetect ($25/month × 2 months = $50) = $420 total. This includes the complete course, unlimited practice tests, flashcards, and exam simulator.
Q: Are Security+ study materials expensive?
A: Study materials range from free (YouTube videos) to $100+ (premium courses). Most people spend $40-100 on books and courses, plus $75-150 on practice tests.
Q: How can I save money on Security+ certification?
A: Use free resources first, buy materials on sale, get exam voucher discounts (student/military), and use a complete system like EpicDetect instead of buying everything separately.
Q: Is Security+ worth the cost?
A: Yes. Security+ certified professionals earn $5,000-15,000 more per year. Even with a $910 investment, you break even in less than 1 month of salary increase. ROI is 880-1,480%.
Q: What if I fail the Security+ exam?
A: You'll need to pay the exam fee again ($370). This is why it's important to be ready before scheduling. EpicDetect's exam simulator helps you know exactly when you're ready, preventing costly retakes.
Q: How much does Security+ cost per month?
A: The exam is a one-time fee ($370). Study materials can be one-time purchases ($40-200) or monthly subscriptions ($8-59/month). EpicDetect is $25/month and includes everything.
Q: What's the cheapest way to get Security+ certified?
A: Exam fee ($370) + free resources + one study guide ($40) = $410 minimum. But you'll likely need practice tests ($75-100), bringing the realistic minimum to $485-510.
TL;DR
- Exam fee: $370 (required)
- Study materials: $40-200 (books, courses)
- Practice tests: $75-150 (most people need these)
- Total realistic cost: $485-720 (without retakes)
- With retake: $855-1,090
- EpicDetect total: $420-445 (everything included, prevents retakes)
- ROI: 880-1,480% (earn $8,000+ more per year)
- Break-even: Less than 1 month
The bottom line: Security+ certification costs $485-720 realistically, but the return is huge. EpicDetect saves you money by including everything in one system and helping you pass faster (avoiding retake costs).
Ready to get Security+ certified without breaking the bank?
Our complete Security+ prep system includes:
- Full Security+ course (replaces $90 courses)
- Unlimited procedural practice tests (replaces $100+ in practice tests)
- 400+ flashcards (replaces $8/month apps)
- Exam simulator (not available elsewhere)
- All for $25/month (less than buying everything separately)
Total cost: $370 (exam) + $50-75 (EpicDetect for 2-3 months) = $420-445
You save $65-490 compared to buying everything separately.